Strength Training For Weight Loss

Yes. You will lose weight from strength training. There are lots of ways to approach your weight loss endeavors. You can do different forms of cardio at the gym such as the treadmill, eliptical, spinning classes, or whatever class they offer. However, what is often over looked is using weight training to to burn the extra calories for weight loss.

When you do cardio for weight loss you are building your calorie deficit and strengthening your heart. This is very good. The only problem is you only burn those extra calories while you are doing that cardio. When you use strength training for weight loss you will lose more calories while resting.

When you tax your body through lifting weights your muscle size increases as your body recovers from the stimulus of lifting those weights. So the more muscle you carry, the more fat you burn. A .lb of muscle burns 35-50 calories extra every day. So you will burn an extra 350 -500 calories over a 7-10 day period with out making any extra changes. Also you will burn calories as your body is trying to recover from the weight training. This is why you see men gain weight as they get older because they may not have changed their diet much but they lose muscle every year after the age of thirty. Their fat burning furnace is starting to diminish. Now this does not mean to go and buy a ton of weight gainer because that is just extra calories and mostly sugar.

Do You Need Protein Powder or Shakes?

A ton of protein does not increase muscle size. The increase of calories does from a balanced diet. Muscle and "Fiction" would have you believe this. They have a pro body builder that uses steroids talking about protein intake (whom they pay) and then on the next page is an ad for protein powder. Your body only absorbs so much protein in a day and at each meal. To much is hard on your kidneys and you basically urinate it out. You are literally throwing money down the toilet. You may need a little extra protein in your diet if you are an athlete. I used them in college as a boxer. Now I don't work out like that so I don't need it. The diet of modern nations has more protein in it than we really need. Your body needs 1 gram of protein for every 2.2 lbs of muscle. It is the resistance training and the gradual increase in training that increases muscle size. Anyone disputes this I will give them the link to the ACE Trainers Manual and let them confront the Dr.s and scientistss with it. I can't speak on steroid use because I don't use them and never have.

So yes, pumping iron, lifting weights, strenght training, whatever you call it will help you lose weight and burn extra calories for fat loss. Maintain a good balanced diet and weight train to lose fat around 3 days a week and 3 sets for each body part, 8-10 reps for each exercise. This is a good start then gradually increase it as you get stronger and see results. Talk to your physician before you begin any weight training regiment or dietary changes.

Good Luck